October 17, 2012 10:03pm EDTOctober 17, 2012 6:30pm EDTPau Gasol learned to live with the trade talk over the last two seasons, and at 32 didn't expect to remain with the Lakers in their latest effort to re-load. But he's still around, and thrilled to be a part of the NBA's newest super team.

When Pau Gasol heard that the Lakers had slipped in and lured point guard Steve Nash to the team as a free agent this summer, he was, of course, excited. As a sweet-shooting big man who can step out past the foul line to set picks and knock down shots, Nash would be an ideal point guard for Gasol. But considering how the previous year had gone for Gasol, his excitement had limits. At that point, he was still not sure whether he would be in L.A. much longer. In fact, he was more sure than not that he would be elsewhere.

“I was excited watching when we got Steve, but at the same time, I knew I could not get too excited,” Gasol said. “I knew things could change at any time. I had to see how things would go.”

Gasol has been a valuable Laker since coming over in a trade in 2008, serving as the No. 2 scoring option behind Kobe Bryant and helping the team to two championships and another Finals appearance in that span.

Still, as things have unraveled for the Lakers in the last two years, Gasol has found himself shouldering the blame in one way or another, time and again. He is criticized by fans and media for being too passive, for being easily distracted—by injuries, by rumored relationship problems, by trade talk. He has been an All-Star three times with the Lakers, but yet, he always seems to be at the forefront when things go wrong.

It’s not just fans and media—the Lakers front office has been all too willing to measure what it could get for Gasol in a trade. There were rumors about Gasol going to Minnesota during the 2011 draft, rumors about him heading to Boston. Before last season, Gasol was sent to Houston as part of the Chris Paul deal, and only stayed with the Lakers when the Hornets pulled out of the deal and the trade collapsed.

The trade rumors were so rampant that Bryant publicly scolded the front office for allowing the rumors to persist. Even after the Lakers got Nash, as rumors about LA pursuing Dwight Howard heated up, Gasol got nervous, figuring he was sure to be included.

The Howard pursuit reached its crescendo while Gasol was playing for Spain during the Olympics in London, where Bryant was representing the U.S. Gasol tried not to pester Bryant for details, but Bryant was plugged in on the negotiations and did his best to keep his friend and teammate informed. Bryant pushed team president Jim Buss not to include Gasol in the deal, if possible. On the night before the trade came down, Gasol got a text from Bryant telling him that Howard would be a Laker. And so would Gasol.

“Very happy, very excited,” Gasol said about receiving the news that he was staying. “It is hard to believe sometimes. There were times it wasn’t certain. I am happy to be here, I am happy to be here every day. It is a new season, a new adventure, a new journey.”

When the season tips off for the Lakers in less than two weeks, no one will be happier to be in purple-and-gold than Gasol. After the Olympics, Gasol vacationed in the mountains in Spain, trying to clear his head. He knew that when he came back, things would be different. He would not be the team’s second option anymore, and at age 32, that might not be a bad thing.

Gasol still had excellent numbers last year, but his production dipped a bit, to 17.4 points and 50.1 percent shooting, his lowest showings as a Laker. Settling in as a high-post passer and a third/fourth offensive option might be a positive at this point in his career.

Now, Gasol is trying to get re-focused on the task at hand, which is helping out this Lakers superteam. For all he has put up with, he says he is, at least, mentally stronger.

“It tested me a lot, I think, it was not easy but I had to learn to deal with that,” Gasol said. “I had to deal with it every day, and just accept it. It was hard, but I learned a lot. Now, it is a very good situation, much better for me to not have to go through what we dealt with last year. There was a lot going last year. Last year is behind us, and now we can learn and grow and move on. I am here.”